Senior Key Account Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Sales Director / Senior Key Account Manager

Location: Michigan, USA

About the Client and Role

• Our client, a leading automotive Tier 1 supplier specialising in exterior automotive systems and components, is seeking an experienced Sales Director to manage strategic OEM customer relationships and drive new business growth across the North American market.

Responsibilities

• Take full commercial responsibility for assigned automotive OEM accounts, including revenue growth, profitability and customer satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders across OEM Purchasing, Engineering and Programme Management.
• Identify, pursue and secure new business opportunities within existing and prospective customers.
• Drive business expansion into additional automotive exterior products, including step rails and cargo management systems.
• Lead customer RFQs, quotations, pricing strategies, commercial negotiations and contract agreements.
• Develop and execute customer-specific account strategies to achieve sales and profitability targets.
• Manage commercial escalations, customer concerns and contractual issues.
• Identify opportunities to increase product penetration and expand existing customer programmes.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Operations, Finance and Programme Management to ensure successful commercial execution.
• Monitor customer requirements, market trends and competitor activity to identify future business opportunities.
• Represent the business at senior customer level, building credibility and influencing key commercial decisions.
• Operate independently within a lean commercial structure, taking a proactive and hands-on approach to account management and business development.

Skills and Qualifications

• Approximately 10+ years of automotive sales, business development or Key Account Management experience.
• Proven experience within an automotive Tier 1 supplier environment, ideally managing major North American OEM customers.
• Demonstrated success managing significant customer accounts and delivering profitable revenue growth.
• Strong track record of winning new business while maintaining and developing established customer relationships.
• Experience managing automotive RFQs, pricing, quotations, contracts and commercial negotiations.
• Strong understanding of automotive OEM purchasing processes, programme nominations and customer expectations.
• Excellent communication, relationship management and negotiation skills.
• Ability to operate independently, manage competing priorities and take ownership of commercial decisions.
• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to influence senior internal and external stakeholders.
• Hands-on, proactive and results-driven approach, with the confidence to work without a large supporting sales team.

About CLM

• At CLM, we're obsessed with creating a better executive search experience for our candidates and clients in the automotive industry. With over 25 years of international experience providing staffing solutions at C-Suite, Leadership and Management level, we go above and beyond to ensure your needs always come first.
• Unfortunately, due to the high level of applications, we are not physically able to get back to every candidate that applies. Please follow our CLM page for regular job updates and we hope to support you with your next venture.